Decor

Interior Decorating for Assisted Living: Ideas for Creating a New Home for the Elderly

For most people the transition from a home to an assisted living center is pretty difficult. It’s not easy to leave a spacious home that you’ve lived in and loved in behind after many years and move into a much smaller place with less autonomy. But there are some benefits to assisted living that make it really worthwhile and usually after the transition is over, the residents love their new carefree life surrounded by peers and friends.

So the key is making the transition from a home to an assisted living center easier and more seamless for the resident. Believe it or not, interior decorating can be the key to making this happen.

Keep it Familiar

Rather than going out and purchasing all new bedding and linens, keep it familiar by using whatever linens you can from the old home. In many cases you can actually select your own bed so bringing the one from home is a good idea. Sleeping can be difficult during the transition phase so by keeping the bed and linens the same you’ve added an element of comfort and a feeling of home.

Size Matters

Most assisted living facilities feature very small apartments so not all of your home furniture is going to fit and you don’t want to go out and buy new pieces that are too large as well. Keep track of measurements as you shop and create a template on paper so you can visualize the furniture in place before you make a purchase.

Safety Concerns

You want to keep safety in mind when you make all of your purchases. Sharp edges on night stands or coffee tables are just asking for trouble. In fact, coffee tables are probably totally unnecessary as they cut down on floor space and provide an obstacle that may be difficult to maneuver around. Rugs can slip so they need proper backing or you should skip them all together.

Conversation Starters

Moving into an assisted living facility is a little bit like starting kindergarten. Everything is strange and unfamiliar and there are a lot of new people to meet. Take a lesson from kindergarten and create a show-and-tell with conversation starters. Use photos, souvenirs, and other mementos from the resident’s lifetime to give visitors a glimpse into their lives and a jumping off point for discussions. Change these trinkets and photos up frequently to keep things interesting.

Storage Options

There is no way you can cram everything from the home into the new living unit, in fact you’ll find it might be difficult to even store the essentials, so when shopping for furniture and accessories make sure you look for pieces with the best storage options. Plan to store items that may be needed frequently nearby and in easy to reach locations. Things that aren’t needed often can be stored in harder to reach spots but the resident must be willing to ask for help when getting these items.

Splurge

Buy one extravagant statement piece that feels like a luxury to the resident. There should be something new that they can take pride in and appreciate and be excited about owning. Make sure this is something the resident will really love.

Remember when using interior decorating to ease the transition into an assisted living facility always keep the resident in mind. You want them to be safe, comfortable, happy and feel at home.…

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Decor

Update a Country Look: Makeover Your Down Home Decor

Decorating with a country style is all about bringing comfort, the familiar, and things that bring you joy into your everyday living. It is about craftsmanship and quality. Unfortunately, many homes decorated in the country style have been holding onto the same furnishings and accessories for decades. If this is true for you, than it is time for a down home makeover.

Start with a Clean Palette

In order to achieve your new look, first you must take down the old one. Clear off shelves of knick knacks, take down the shelves themselves, remove wallpaper and curtains, and empty the room you are transforming. (If you need to redo a whole house, tackle it one room at a time.)

Once you've taken everything down, give an honest assessment. Chances are that the wooden hanging plaques you got at the art fair, dried flower arrangements, and floral curtains have seen better days. If they are dusty, faded, or worse, toss them. They were not meant to grace your home forever, and it's time to let them go. Donate to charity any items that are still in good condition.

Decide What Country Means to You

Country to some people is a place away from the hustle and bustle of the city, while to others it is a state of mind. It can be a sense of comfort, a love of antiques, or the idea of simple living. Decide what it means to you and then make choices that reflect that decision.

To make your home comfortable for family and friends, it should have a restful feeling. An accumulation of "stuff", or accessories upon accessories, is distracting to the eye. Country should be clean, simple, and easy. Less is more. Chose one painting for the wall instead of a collection. Pick a solid wall color instead of busy wallpaper.

Country Colors

When choosing decor, don't fall prey to the kitschy. Your table cloth does not have to be red and white checked like a picnic blanket. You do not need a cookie jar shaped like a pig. You don't need an actual picture of a cow to convey country: try a big leather chair with rough skin.

Blue hues are popular in country themes, and a cool blue and tan look is very hot in the decorating world right now. An earthly tan or chocolate brown is a great base for country decorating, to compliment the wood accents on furniture and accessories that fit so well in a country theme.

Sage green is another good color for country homes, as the green is soft yet brings in the outdoors. Golden yellow is another good choice, representing the color of a hayfield or sunflower.

Accessories and Furniture with a Country Feel

Country is about nature, working off the land, and professional craftsmanship. Handmade side tables carved from a solid piece of wood, leather couches, and a stone fireplace add warmth and natural appeal. Antiques and old-fashioned pieces can be great accents, but don't fall into the trap of believing the entire house has to feel as if it's ripped from the past. Let a great antique be the focal point and not lost in a jumble of other antiques that are fighting for attention.

Don't be afraid to put your personality into your home, but keep it simple and relaxed, as country living should be.…

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Internet

5 Ways to Make Money On Instagram

There are several ways to make money on Instagram, but it’s important that you only use methods that don’t violate the terms of service agreement of the site.

This includes anything that asks you to buy, sell, or try to alter the way that the site works in any way.

While a lot of people have made some quick and easy money through ads on the right side of the page, there are limits to what can be done, so you should only dabble.

The best strategy is still to build your followers and turn them into buyers by promoting the products that they want or love.

You can get a better feel for how to do this by reading the rest of this article.

Sponsored posts:

Some companies will pay you to promote their product on your page.

You don’t have to do all of the work, but some companies will throw in an extra post for free if you do.

For example, if you like pizza, they might send you a sponsored post on a monthly or quarterly basis.

You can also make money through sponsored stories, which allows you to write about someone who uses their product and give an honest review.

Photos and videos:

This is the bread and butter of Instagram marketing, you can read more at SMM World.

People enjoy visual content, especially on a site like Facebook where there is so much content already there for you to look at.

Take a lot of pictures from different places and post them to your account.

If you are into videos, make sure to post some to your page as well.

People love watching videos, so you’ll definitely have people following your updates if you can provide them with something interesting to watch.

The trick is to provide content that people will want to see on a regular basis, so keep your page updated all the time.

Business feeds:

You can set up a business feed that shows customers the latest products and deals that you’ve found on the web.

Most of the time, these feeds are updated manually by Instagram staff, but you can help them do this by adding links to your products on your page.

Business feeds can turn into huge profits for you, especially during the holiday season.

With so many people shopping on Black Friday and Christmas, make sure that you are one of the first people to show up with deals on these holidays.

Private messages:

You can make money through private messages on Instagram.

You can send other Instagram users messages that will only be seen by them.

You can sell anything that you want on your page, and you can even put coupon codes so that people can save money when they buy products off of your shelf.

Make sure that you read the guidelines carefully before you start sending messages so that you don’t get in trouble.

Engagement levels:

When you follow people on Instagram, you’ll increase your chances of them following you back as well.

The best way to attract followers is to make sure that your page is fun and engaging.

People love interacting on social media, so if you want to make money, make sure that you keep your page updated at all times.

If you constantly stay away from updates, then you’ll only have a handful of followers.

Tips:

There are also many tips that you can find on the internet to help you make money.

One of the most popular ones is using coupon codes.

Coupons are great because they can save you some money on whatever you’re purchasing.

Make sure that you research each code thoroughly before you try it out on your page.

Instagram may seem like a gimmick at first, but you can make real money on it.

There are many different ways that you can go about making it work for you, though it helps to have a clear plan in mind before you get started.

Follow the above-mentioned tips and you should be able to make a lot of money off of your page in no time at all.

It’s a great way to share your pictures and let everyone know what you’re up to.…

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Engineering

Is test and tag a profitable business?

We’ve all seen the commercials and ads for test and tag businesses.

In this blog post, we’ll explore whether or not these companies are a viable option for business owners.

First, let’s look at what these types of companies do: they’re in charge of testing homes’ plumbing systems to ensure that there is no leakage from pipes or fixtures.

Next, we’ll examine the pros and cons of starting a test and tag company so you can determine if it would be a good fit for your own personal goals.

Finally, we will discuss how much money you could expect to make with this type of company once it has been up-and-running for five years based on different factors such as location, number of employees, etc.

In Australia, when we talk about the testing and tagging industry, we could be talking about a $100 million business or one that earns around $5 million to $10 million – depending on who you ask.

It’s difficult to define exactly how much revenue is brought in by companies involved with this sector because there could be many not-for-profit organizations running testing and tagging programs for schools, sporting clubs, and other groups barely turning over any profit.

However, there are certainly plenty of commercial operators making a tidy sum from their businesses.

For example, Brisbane-based company Toxguard runs tagging programs for thousands of children each week and has various outlets spread throughout the country.

This type of business is also supported by businesses such as Service First, which supplies equipment to firms in this sector, including cash registers and point of sale systems.

Mark Hewitt is one individual who has worked hard to carve out his own business in test and tag.

His company’s official name is National Electrical Safety (NES) Services, but he recognizes that these sorts of companies need an edge over their competition to ensure they can survive.

Mark tells us more about how he set up the business below:

“When I first started my electrical tester training course I had no idea there were so many opportunities out there for people with the right skills.

I had always worked in construction so I never really considered being a tester or testing company as an option, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“I was able to use my electrical skills along with my qualifications to get my business off the ground.

Once you know what the industry is about and how it works, then opportunities will start to become apparent through your own research into the specific test and tag companies.

Being a sole trader didn’t seem appealing at first because of the lack of security.

But when you find something you love doing it’s all worthwhile.”

“My advice to anyone thinking about setting up a test and tag business would be not to rush into things too quickly, if you decide to start a test and tag business in Australia, call your service something like “Testing and Tagging Melbourne“.

No matter what your market segment maybe, the whole idea of electrical safety compliance is pretty simple: make sure equipment used by others has been safely tested and indicate that it meets Australian Standards.

In manufacturing, there are two types of testing, Factory Mutual (FM) and Heavy Industries Science And Technology Association (HISTA).

With FM you are required to test or check that all installations comply with Australian Standards at least once every six months.

Has varied depending on the type of equipment being used in your business – whether it’s power tools, forklifts, or other plant equipment.

The main advantage of hiring an electrical tester is that you don’t have to buy your own test and tag equipment.

However, if you do decide to set up your own business as a testing company then there are various forms of equipment needed such as lockout gear, plug testers, and earth fault loop impedance testers.

You can get all the necessary equipment from Service First Electrical.

Mark Hewitt says it’s important to stay close with customers so they know exactly where their maintenance funds are being spent.

This also provides the opportunity for businesses to create good relationships with clients so they can be given higher priority in any emergency situation.

“It’s really important to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to industry trends because this way you will always be the first to hear about market opportunities.

For example, if you’re in the area of power tools then it would be wise to know what other types of equipment companies are using.”

“All information is good info when it comes to this business, so I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned it’s you shouldn’t try and tackle all your problems by yourself.

Sooner or later these things will come back and bite you if not resolved properly.”

“You’ve got to stay ahead of the game even though the basic idea might seem simple enough.”…

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Family / Posts

What Car Should I Buy: A Beginner Guide!

What car should I buy for a beginner?

There are several cars you can start with, starting with an economical small car towing a light trailer behind a truck.

It is best to find at least two cars that are affordable and will get you on the road.

Once you know how safe a car is to drive, you can work your way up to a more powerful sports car.

The type of car you should buy depends on your style of driving, safety concerns, your wallet, and your needs as a driver.

When you consider what cars to buy for a beginner, the first thing you need to consider is the safety rating of the vehicle.

Is it worth buying or should you stay away?

How safe is it?

This question is most important when it comes to four-door sedans.

If the car has a low rating, it may not be worth buying, especially if the car will be used for transporting children.

A safe driver can get good grades in school, but that doesn’t mean you can take your car out on the highway without knowing how to drive it.

In fact, some people who are involved in an accident don’t even know how to fix their cars.

That is why it is so important to purchase a safe car.

There are so many different makes and models available on the market today that finding one that has been well maintained can help you avoid any costly repairs in the future.

Before you even begin thinking about what car to buy for a beginner, you want to think about what level of driving you plan to do.

Are you just learning to drive for pleasure or do you have a goal of becoming a safe, dependable driver?

Even if you want to become a safe driver, you can start by selecting a safe car from the beginning.

This is a great way to begin learning how to drive because you won’t have to worry about losing money if you get into an accident or have an accident that costs you lots of money.

The first and best thing you need to do is find out how safe the car you want to purchase is before you even begin looking.

You should first try to find out how much damage each vehicle has been through.

In most cases, vehicles that are sold for cheap are known to be unsafe because they have been abused.

Ask friends or family members if they can recommend any reliable dealers who sell cars for cheap.

If you don’t have anyone who can give you advice [click here] you can always check online to see what other people have said about various dealers.

Another way to find out about the safety of a particular car is to ask around your community.

People living around you will be able to tell you if a car is safe to drive or not.

Of course, you have to take their word for it, but it’s a good idea to ask around.

What car should I buy for a beginner to help them become a safe driver?

It would also be a great idea to find out from your local police force if they know of any reliable dealers in your area.

Ask them for advice.

What car should I buy for a beginner to help them become a safe driver?

If you are new to driving, you should get a vehicle that has a high safety ranking.

High-ranking cars are known to have a reduced chance of having accidents, which means that they are less likely to cost you a lot of money in repairs.

Now that you have found out what car should I buy for a beginner, you should make sure that you are ready to go out and drive it.

You never know when you might have an accident, and it would be horrible if you had an accident while on your first trip with your new car.

You never know when something may happen that could have unforeseen consequences.

That is why it is important to make sure that you are insured because if you get into an accident without insurance, you could owe a lot of money and be unable to get any money to fix the car.…

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Fashion

Zipper Fashion Rosettes

Supplies:
Metal zipper
Fabric scrap
Scissors
Hot glue
White glue

You might have been saving zippers to sew into other garments, if those zippers go bad, but sewing zippers into clothing isn’t the only way to reuse them. Cut zippers up and use them in an unusual way to make embellishments for fashions and home decorating projects, rosettes for crafting, and other fanciful items. If you already have zippers, you won’t pay a penny for the rosettes, which can be used in many different ways.

Unzip a zipper and cut it, straight across, to remove the zipper pull, and to separate the two sides of the zipper. Since each piece has fabric stitched to it, it’s necessary to remove the cloth. Cut the stitches to remove the biggest part of it; use a lighter to burn off the rest. Remember to hold the zipper with a potholder because the zipper will get hot as you burn the fabric off.

When all of the cloth is off of the zipper it’s the easiest thing to turn it into a rosette. Simply lay it flat on a table and begin winding it around itself. Hold one end down, and wrap the other end around and around the stationary end. You’ll make a flat circle of zipper teeth, which is metallic and lovely. If you want the rosette to be larger than it is when you finish wrapping, use a dot of hot glue to hold the end in place, and start wrapping another zipper-half around it.

The rosette you make is a flat one but you can give it dimension by making another one on top of it. The top rosette should be a bit smaller than the bottom one. Add another rosette, and another, to create the depth that you want; make each rosette smaller than the previous one.

The zipper rosette will be easiest to attach if you glue a piece of cloth or felt to the bottom of it. Glue the finished flower to a purse, a garment, a lampshade, a mirror or picture frame corner, or even a hat. Attach it to a piece of fabric to make a curtain tie-back, or make a large zipper rosette, and turn it into a coaster.

Don’t like the metallic color of the rosette? Paint it! You can easily spray paint the zipper before you start, or paint the rosette when you’re finished. That gives you many options for coordinating colors on your fashions, or for your home decorating.

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